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Every year people complain about the network coverage. I think you guys are nuts. First off, the sport is tailor-made for HD with the beautiful animals, the vivrant colors and the environment as a whole. Secondly, the blimp shots, the rail shots, etc. are absolutely amazing. Every year I read some clown saying they should just use the basic single camera shot you watch at home on your ADW site because "that's the best way to watch a race." Are you kidding me? NBC is basically making a two minute movie out there and you'd really rather be watching the grainy track camera? Finally, all the human/animal interest stories, the Top Chef b.s., and interviews with the celebs are what draws the casual fan in.
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Well said. The sport has taken terrible public hits in the recent past (Eight Belles), and had been forced out off into cable oblivion. Glad to see it back on the national networks. NBC obviously loves the sport, respects the sport, and they do a great job treating racing as a major, important sport deserving of more than an hour of coverage, even when it isn't nowadays.
What benefit does that type of sugary presentation give us? It helps with our continued existence. It helps the average somebody who doesn't care about racing to view the sport in a positive manner when confronted by some PETA person wanting to ban the sport due to an Eight Belles, or when having to vote on legislation to restrict gambling. It does help bring people out to a day at Arlington, a day at Keeneland.
Geesh - if people want nothing but the gambling aspect, read the DRF, watch at the OTB or your ADW site, go to the horse racing TV channels. Displays of futures and exotic payoff boxes would bore the general public to tears. I think NBC does a great job, and I'm thrilled to have horse racing back on that particular network. Calling that show "garbage" is unfair.